HOME SCHOOL BOOK REVIEW
Book: Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time
Author: P. J. Davis
Illustrator: Tom Peacock
Publisher: Philaments, 2024
ISBN-13: 979-8990031623 Hardcover
ISBN-10: 8990031623 Hardcover
ISBN-13: 979-8990031616 Paperback
ISBN-10: 8990031616 Paperback
Website(s): http://www.PJDavisAuthor.com (author)
Language level: 2
(1=nothing objectionable; 2=common euphemisms and/or childish slang terms; 3=some cursing and/or profanity; 4=a lot of cursing and/or profanity; 5=obscenity and/or vulgarity)
Recommended reading level: Ages 8 – 13
Rating: ***** 5 stars
(5 stars=EXCELLENT; 4 stars=GOOD; 3 stars=FAIR; 2 stars=POOR; 1 star=VERY POOR; no stars=NOT RECOMMENDED)
Category: Fantasy
Reviewed by Wayne S. Walker
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Davis, P. J. Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time (Published in 2024 by Philaments). Thirteen year old Maxwell Kellerman, known as Max, is a seventh grader living in Providence, RI, with his mother, who is a librarian. His scientist father, Nathaniel Kellerman, went to Zurich, Switzerland, to work and disappeared, reportedly killed in an explosion and fire. Max’s best friends at school are Derek and Samantha (Sam). Max is a daydreamer and spends a lot of time at the bookstore owned by his Uncle Owen Peters, where he meets an elderly German physicist named Dr. Hans Von Guttenberg, or Professor Gutt for short, who gives Max an old Latin book which tells about a realm ruled by Abaddon called Nemesis containing the Vault of Time, where creatures of the netherworld (Boggarts, Narks, Barghests, and Wereboars, et, al.) store up bits of time which they have stolen from people on earth (fleshies) during daydreams, waiting for the day when they have enough stolen time to conquer the whole world, which is now very near.
From an angelic-like being named Zadkiel, Max learns that Nathaniel is in Nemesis, so he talks Sam and Derek into going there with him to rescue his father and hopefully stop the conquest of earth by Abaddon. How do they manage to get to Nemesis? Can they find Max’s father? Will they be able to stop the conquest and get back home, or do they get caught and thrown into the abyss? Here is story with a strong good versus evil plot with elements of adventure, exploration, other worlds, and science fiction. Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time is an exciting, fun, and fast paced middle-grade novel with plenty of suspense, danger, and humor. A few euphemisms (e.g., heck), and some childish slang terms (holy crap, pissed off) occur. But underlying the story there are important messages about believing in oneself and finding inner strength as it delves into themes of friendship and father-son relationships. Also, it was nice to read a self-contained novel rather than having to wade through a trilogy or even a tetralogy before coming to a final conclusion.